Game



sept. 21, 193,7. s. T. ALLEN 2,093,948

GAME Filed Jan. 31, 1933 A 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 S. T. ALLEN Sept. 21, 1937.

GAME

Filed Jan. 5l, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 JVVENTUR .5172 ZULLEN- S. T. ALLENsept. l21, 1937.

GAME

Filed Jan. 3l, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IlTl h WN v um .Nm Q. www @s nww\mw MM \\\1\Jb! r SQ n mm. $1 mw A mw NWN Y H+ fla J .Mmm km www irl NS1 n w .llllll/v/Ilw Nm. @Y SN L NQQN \\w% %N\ NNN. :F 1| 1 \.\N. NN. NQKW QN 1 f L l lill! 1 Q Q hul mslm 4| m 7n, f .u \lh.| Il NN uN"IIVVENTUL Sept. 2l, 1937. s. T. ALLE-N GAME Filed Jan. 3l, 1935 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Z z? 87 a :91% sa 77 F 75(5/ 97 UL 76 Z2 Id Z2 v v A l 'p3.3 l i l ''lu 11"" I 7 .jill h. l f I l i 123 l 5gg/Q M 122 m 127:'NVENTDL jj' E IZJJLLEN* f2.4 BY 123 j?? .H5 El? 'S 28- 116 ,/2'

A A n TTUHNEY.

Patented Sept. 21, 1937 pira stares PATsr GAME Sherman T. Allen, LosAngeles, Calif.,.assignor, by mesne assignments, to Oliver O. Brooker,San Francisco, Calif. y

Application .l'anuary 31, 1933, Serial No. 654,454 In Canada June 28,1932 13 Claims. (Cl. 273-101) This invention relates to games, and moreparticularly to games operated in conjunction with a coin controlledmechanism requiring that a suitable coin or coins be deposited thereinbefore scribed, wherein novel means arekprovided for placing the quoitsin operativerelation to the pitching device, this placing meanscomprising a magnet whereby the quoits maybe picked up, and

the game can be played. a handle on the magnet accessible exteriorly ofAn object of the present invention is to prothe housing whereby themagnet maybe so mavide a coin controlled game of the characterdenipulated as to place a 'quoit carried thereby in scribed, whichsimulates, and is played similarly selected position upon the pitchingmeans, but to, the well known game of quoits or horsewithout permittingdirect access to thequoits shoes. themselves. g al0 Another object inthis connection is to provide The present invention possessesotherobjects a miniature quoit or horseshoe game contained andadvantageous features, some of'which,-With within a suitable case havinga transparent winthose enumerated, will be set forth in lthe fol1ow-'dow through which the progress of the game can ing description of theinventionsy particular embe watched, and provided with exteriorlyoperable bodiments which are illustrated in the drawings .l5 controlswhereby the quoit or quoits may be accompanying and forming a portion ofthis manipulated in order to play the game. specification. It is to beunderstood that rI do Another object is to provide a coin-operated notlimit myself to the specific, disclosure made by n game as hereinaboveset forth, which is of novel the said description, as I may4 adoptvariations of e0 and eicient design, and in the playing of which thepreferred form within the scope otgmy inven- 2,0

a considerable degree of skill is necessaryl in tion as set forth in theclaims. f' order to build up a comparatively high score. In Referring tothe drawings: .Y this respect, the game of the present invention Fig. 1is a perspective view of a game construct- W differs materially frommost coin-operated games, ed in accordance with the principles of theprese" inasmuch as the great majority of games of this ent invention. l'25 general class depend almost exclusively upon Fig. 2 is a transverse,vertical sectional view, mere chance. the vplane of section being takenupon the line Another object of my invention is to provide a 2-2 ofFigure 1. Aportion of the figure is broken m novel construction of coincontrol mechanism away to reduce its size. f f.,

U0 which is particularly adapted for use in conjunc- Fig. 3 is alongitudinal, vertical sectional View, 30 tion with the quoit gamehereinabove referred to. the plane of section being taken uponv the lineA still further object is to provide a game as 3-3 of Fig. 2 with thedirection of View as indihereinabove described wherein the playing boardcated. A portion of the 'ligure is broken away to q of the game, thecoin control, and operating mechreduce its size.

U0 anism associated therewith each forms a compact Fig. 4 is ahorizontal sectional View, the plane 3.5 unit readily accessible toauthorized lpersons for of section being taken upon the line @ie-t ofFig. 3, the purpose of inspection, repair, or replacement with thedirection of view as indicated. A poras occasion demands. v tion of thefigure is broken away to reduce its 4() Another object of the presentinvention is to size.

provide a novel type of quoit or horseshoe having Fig. 5 is an enlargeddetailed view in longi- 40 rollers or the like so associated therewiththat the tudinal, vertical section. The plane of section is quot iscaused to turn as it moves along a Supsubstantially the same as in' Fig.3 and :this porting surface, and assume a predetermined po-y view showsthe mechanism associated with the sition with respect to its directionof movement. quoit game in its initial position.

' This portion of my invention is embodied in a Fig. 6 is a view similarto Fig. 5 with the mech- 4P modified form of quoit which can besubstituted anism in its second position, i. e., after vthe coin for theone-piece horseshoes to be described herehas been deposited and the coinstrip pushed in'- in'oelow, and when so substituted, can be pitchedward. v

toward the pin in the same manner as the simpler Fig. 7 is a View intransverse, Vertical section,

quoits. Moreover, this modiiied form of quoit can taken upon the line'l-l of Fig. 6, with the di- 59 be used apart from the remainder of thegame, rection of view as indicated. n inasmuch as it is capable ofaiiording much v Fig. 8 is a detail View. in horizontal sectionamusement and entertainment as a childs toy. taken upon the line 8-3 ofFig. 5 with the di- A further object is to furnish aminiature quoitrection of view as indicated to show a portion 55 or horseshoe game ofthe general character deof the coin-control mechanism.

Fig. 9 is another detail view of the coin control mechanism, taken inhorizontal section upon the line 9--9 of Fig. 5 with the direction ofview as indicated.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view in vertical section taken upon theline |0|0 of Fig. 4 with the direction of view as indicated by thearrows, and showing the mechanism for releasing the quoits from the pin.

Fig. 11 is a plan view showing a modified form i of quoit which can beused in conjunction with the game of the present invention, or aparttherefrom as a separate toy.

In terms of broad inclusion, the game 'of the present inventioncomprises a playing board having a peg or pin projecting upwardstherefrom adjacent one end thereof, and-means associated with the otherend of the playing board for successively pitching quoits toward the pegin simulation of the well known gamel of duoits"or horseshoes, 'Ihe gameis of miniature form, being preferably completely enclosed within asuitable case or housing'having a transparent window through which theprogress of the game can be observed. Preferably the peg projectsupwards through a hole or recess in the playing board within which askillfully pitched quoit can be received so as to occupy a position outof the Wayl of quoits pitched subsequently. Means Vare provided f orreleasing the quots from the pin, ejecting them from the hole or recess,and for returning them to a position adjacent the pitching means. Amagnet operable by a handle extending outside the case, can bemanipulated to pickfup the quoits and 'place them in proper relation tothe pitching means so that they can be pitched successively toward thepin. The means for returning the quoits to the pitching end of the'boardis controlled by a coin-control mechanism of novel and highly eicientdesign, requiring the insertion of a suitable coin or coins before thegame can be played.

A preferred embodiment of my game is illustrated in the drawings andcomprises a case `or housing 2| composed of side walls 22, front andrear end walls 23 and 24, respectively, and a top 26,4- having arelatively large panel 21 of transparent and preferably.` rigid materialsuch as glass. 'Ihe bottom ofthe housing 2|'is provided bya pivotallymounted playing board 28 which extends from adjacent the rear wall 24 to'a position forward of the loweredge of a transverse vertical partition29, rigid with and extending downwards from the top 28. Thus it maybeseen that the entire space 3| withinthe case 2| andbehind the partition29, is substantially completely enclosed. Preferably the glass panel v21extends over only that portion of the space 3| which lies between thetransverse partition 2'9 and the back wall 24, thereby leaving asmallerspace"32 between the front wall 24Y and the partition 32 which can notbe seen throughthe panel'28.4 y

A quoit game, indicated in its entirety at l35 is `mounted within thecase 2|, and whereas the present modification shows only one quoit gamein the j'case 2 I, it should be understood that the'inventioncontemplates providing as many indiyvid'uallyoperable games in each caseasmay be desired.4 The purpose of providing a plurality of games in eachcase 2| is to make it possible Vforarplurality of players to play thegame simultaneously, thereby enhancing the competitive nature of thegame and adding materially to the enjoyment and excitement of playing.However,

tends.

inasmuch as all the several quoit gameswould be of identicalconstruction, it will suice for the purpose of the present disclosure toillustrate and describe but one of them.

The quoit game 36 comprises a playing area 31 presented by the uppersurface of the playing board 28, which is mounted for pivotal movementabout an axis extending transversely of the housing 2| and situatedsubstantially onequarter of the length of the playing board 28 from theback wall 24, as best shown upon Figs.

2, 3 and 4. 'Ihe means for mounting the playing board 28 comprises astrip or plate 38 secured to the under surface of the playing board andhaving its ends deflected downwards to present lugs 39 through which a.pivot bar 4i ex- This bar 4| extends across the housing 2|, its endsbeing mounted within holes in the sidewalls 22. Removable caps 42 arepreferably threaded into the outer ends of the holes to retain the bar4l in operative position and to conceal the ends of the bar.

A handle 48, rigid with the forward end 41 of the playing board 28,extends through a slot 48 in an escutcheon plate 49 on the front wall23. The slot 48 is vertically elongated to permit vertical movement ofthe end 41 of the playing board, the purpose being to tilt the board 28from its normal, or playing position wherein it lies substantiallyhorizontally or sufciently nearly so to permit the horseshoes or quoitsfrom sliding thereupon when resting upon its upper surface. When tiltedby lowering the handle 48, the board 28 assumes a sufliciently inclinedposition to cause quoits resting thereupon to slide downwards therealonguntil they drop into a pocket or recess 5I formed in the upper surfaceof the playing board 28 immediately behind the transverse partition 29.I prefer to provide the upper surface of the playing board 2B with ahigh polish, so as to decrease the angular distance through which theboard 28 must be tilted in order to cause the quoits to slide thereupon.The same effect is attained by employing the modication of quoit whichis illustrated upon Fig. l1 and which will be described in greaterdetail hereinbelow.

The forward end 41 of the playing board 28 is adapted to be'retained innormal or elevated position through the expedient of a detent or catch56 carried by a horizontally slidable plate 51 which is carried by aguiding member 58 rigidly secured to the under surface of the top 26forward of the transverse partition 29. This gtuding member 58 ispreferably in the form. of a flat tube extending longitudinally withrespect to the housing 2|. A second plate 59 is also slidably ymountedwithin the tubular guiding member 58 between the plate 51 and the frontwall 23; and this plate 59 is engaged by an actuating member 6| theupper end 62 of which extends upwards through the top 26 to beaccessible exteriorly of the housing 2|. The slot 63 within the top 26in which the actuating member B2 is disposed is elongated longitudinallywith respect to the housing 2| so that the actuating member 62 can bemoved in reciprocating motion in this direction, carrying with it inlike motion the plate 59 becauseof the interconnection of these twomembers in any suitable manner, such as by a finger 53 on the lower Yend of the actuating member extendingthrough a suitable opening in theplate 59.

Whereas the principal portion of the plate 59 is disposed forward of theother plate 51, I prefer that the p1ate`59` be provided withV longi-`tudinal extensions 65 projecting beyond the distal end of the plate 51`and thatthe ends of the extensions 66 be interconnected by a'transversestrip 61, the effect being that' the plate 51 is completely surroundedby the plate 59, a suitable opening 68 being provided in the plate59Awithin which the plate 51 'canreciprocate with respect to the plate5?. This permits a longitudinaly reciprocation of the plate 59 withoutsimilar movement of the plate 51, unless a coin B9. be interposedbetween the shoulder 1l which terminates the after end of the opening 68and a projecting finger 12 on the proximal end of the plate 51. For thepurpose of introducing a coin of suitable denomination into the opening68, the after end of the slot 63 is enlarged to provide a portion 13 ofsubstantially circular cross-sectional conguration so that even thoughacoin is introduced edgewise into this portion 13 it will fall onto thelower portion of a tubular guiding member 58 in such position that itlies-at there-v upon, as clearly shown upon Fig. 9'. The parts are soproportioned and arranged that the device can be actuated only by acoinof suitable denomination, say, for example, a five-cent piece. If' acoin smaller than a live-cent piece `be inserted and the strip y5i? thenpushed toward the rear of the machine, the strip 51 will not'besimilarly carried with it because the coin will merely be pushed to oneside within the opening 68 permitting the coin to move without exertingany pushing action against the proiecting'nger 12. However, if theproper coin be inserted it cannot be pushed to one lside by theextension 12 because it substantially coincides Viniwidth to the opening58. Therefore, when thefproper coin @il is pushed toward the after-endl24 by means of the strip 59, the strip 51 will also beucarried in thisdirection, as will also therdet'ent 56which is rigidly secured to theplate 51. y

An opening 14 is provided in the lower portion of the guiding member 58through which the coin S9 can drop when the plateuiii) reaches itsforward extreme of motion;v andgal laterallyinclined coin-chute 15guides the oo intov a suitable receiver 11, access toA which may'jbe hadonly by authorized persons. l y

When in its forward positionj thefdetent 55 is adapted to engage abracket 8l vrigid with the forward end 41 of the playing board 28,' asclearly shown upon Fig., 5, and thus 4hold the associa-ted end of theplaying board in elevated position. It is obvious, however, that when`the detent 53 is carried to its other extreme of motion the bracket 8!will be released (see Fig. @6), permitting the forward end 41 of theplaying `board 23 to be lowered, whereby return of the quoits to therecess 5| may be effected, as explained hereinabove. Preferably a pairof coil springs 18 in tension support the forward fend i1 vof theplaying board 28 so that the operatormust press downwards upon thehandle 4,6v in order to cause the quoits to be returned to the forwardend of the playing board. y

The means for re-engaging the detent i6 with the bracket 8| comprises asuitable abutment such as a screw 83 rigid with the reciprocable portion34 of the pitching member 86, which will be described in detailhereinbelow. The'nger G3 on the actuating member 6i which engages theplate 59 extends therebeyond and through a suitable slot 'B1 in theguiding member 55% to a position within the p ath of the upper end ofthe abutment 83, s that when the reciprocable portion 851 of thepitching nfernber is withdrawn thev abutmentl S3 will engage the finger63, drawing the vplate 59 back toward the front wall 23 of the housing2l. .As this occurs, the transverse stripl' lofthe plate 59 will engagethe after end of the-plate 51 so thattthis plate also is moved toward"the front wall 23, so? that the detent 553 is again carriedinla positionto engage the bracket' 8l.

Means are provided, however, for preventing withdrawal of thereciprocable member S4 until thev forward end fl'i of the playing board28 is agai'nraised to its fully elevated position. For this purposey acheat proof in the form of a three-armed plate 88 is pivctally mountedas by a screw 89 upon the forward face of the transverse 'partition Q9.The screw 89 pivctally engages an arm ill. of the plate 88 whereasanother arm G2 spaced laterally from the pivot screw 89: extendsdownwards to engage the forward end fit1 of the playing board Ztl-whenthe latter is in fully elevated position. The third arm Q3 extendsbeyond the arm 92 andvcarries'an extension 94 which projects toward therearof the machine to engage a lateral extension il@ on the reciprocablemember 84. However, the engagement between the extensiony 92' on the'cheat proof and the' lateral extension 96 of the pitching member canoccur only when the cheat proof is swung to its lowermost position, inwhich it is illust rated upon Fig. 7, and this can occur only when theforward end 41 of the playing board 23 is swung downwards from itsuppermost position. When the end i1 is raised it engage the arm 92,raising the cheat'proof, moving the extension or" the arm Q3 out ofregistry withthe extension Se. "Iherefor'e itfis not until 'after theplaying board 23 has returned to its extreme elevated position that thereciiprocable member trl of the pitching device can be retracted; andthis preventsth-e possibility of' replacing the detent 56 before theibracket Si has been moved high enough for the detent t to becomeengaged thereunden Y t The yrecip'rocable member 84 of the pitchingmechanism 86 is'prefer'ably in the form of a rod or bar 91ofnon-circular cross section, mounted for longitudinal reeiprocatorymotion in a guideway S8 which is rigidly mounted within the housing 2i,preferably by'being secured at its ends to the front wall'23 and thepartition 29. One end 98 of the rod 91 extends beyond the front walll 23to provide a handle'where'by the rod 91 conveniently'be'retracted'against the action of a coil' spring Il which is under tension betweenther partition 25 and a lug M32 0n the bar $51. Preferably resilientstop means are provided forlimiting inward motion of the rod 91, such asa coil spring U33 encircling the rod v91 outside the housing 2l andanchored at onefend'as by a screw 96' tothe rod 91 in position' for theother end of the spring to engage a pad mit of cushioning material onthefront Lend 23 ofthehousing 2i as the rod 91 nears its inner 'extremeof movement, This stop-spring m3 is, however,-relatively Stiff ascompared to theactuating spring 50i, the purpose being 'to bring the rod91 to rest relatively suddenly, but with am'inimurn of noise.

A suitable socket Hl is' provided uponl the innerend of the rod' 91, theparts being so proportionedand arranged that this socket HI lies jusuinside (1.' e. behind) the transverse partition 29 when the rod 91 is insuch position that the springs l0i` and 193 -are in equilibrium. Thesocket I l l; is open at its inner end'andis adapted to receive missilsto be thrown, such as quoits or horseshoes I I2, a plurality of whichare provided within the housing 2 I. The quoits I I2 are adapted to bereceived singly within the socket III resting loosely upon the uppersurface of the lower, horizontal plate ||3 of the socket. The socketterminates in an abutment such' as a transverse strip I I4 which thequoit is adapted to engage so as to cause the quoit to move with thesocket as the latter moves rapidly inwards under the impetus oftheactuating springIIlI. When this inward motion is suddenly stopped,however, the quoit I I2 will continue its motion toward the after end ofthe housing 2|, due to the fact that the inner end of the socket III isopen and unobstructed. Thus it may be seen that when a quoit ||2 isplaced within the socket II I it may be pitched toward the after end ofthe housing 2| by pullingloutwards on the end 99 of the bar 91, thusstoring suflicient energy in the actuating spring IDI to cause the rod91, the socket I I I, and the quoit |I2 carried thereby tobe moved quiterapidly toward therear end of the housing when the end 99 of the bar 91is released. When the bar 91 and socket III are brought to an abruptstop by engagement of the spring ID3 with the cushion |06, the quoit II2 will continue its rapid motion toward the after end of. the housing.Preferably the spring I 8| is of such strength that the quoit will bethrown through the air for a considerable distance before coming intocontact with the playing board 28, after which it will slide therealongtoward a peg or pin |I6 which is provided adjacent the after end of thehousing 2| projecting above the board 28 so that quoits I|2 pitched fromthe socket III can, if the controls are manipulated correctly, becomeengaged upon the pin IIB. Preferably this pin is carried upon a'bracketI I1 rigid with the after end 24 of the housing 2| and projects upwardstherefrom through a circular opening II8 which is formed in the board 28between the after end thereof and the bracket 38 by means of which theboard 28 is pivotally supported. Hence, when the forward end 41 of theboard 28 is lowered, that portion of the board 428 within which theopening ||3 is formed will be raised. The opening II3 serves as a recesswithin which a plurality of quoits, each of which has been pitchedsuccessfully so as to encircle the pin I I and thus score a ringer, willbecome lodged; and the purpose of raising the after end of the playingboard 28 is to lift these quoits above the after end of the'peg II6 orso nearly to the level of the upper end thereof, that the quoits may beejected from the recess ||8 and thus released from the peg IIS onto thesloping surface of the board 28 by the ejecting mechanism indicated inits entirety at |I9 and illustrated to best advantage upon Fig. 10.

This ejecting mechanism I I9 comprises a plate or disc |2I slightlysmaller in diameter than the recess II8 and normally lying substantiallyin the plane of the under surface of the playing board 28 so as to serveas the bottom for the recess I I8 upon which quoits disposed within therecess can rest. A slot |22 is provided in the disc I2I through whichthe pin IIB extends, this pin being disposed substantially axially withrespect to the recess II8. The plate I2| is supported by an arm |23which extends longitudinally through a small housing |24 secured totheunder surface of the playing board 28. A transverse notch |26 is formed4in the under surface of the arm |23 in position to engage upon the loweredge 'of an opening |21 which is provided in the after end of thehousing |24. A spring clip I 28 is interposed between the upper surfaceof the arm I23gand the upper edge of the opening |21, thereby retainingthe arm |23 in such position thatthe lower edge of the opening |21remains engaged within the transverse notch |26 so as to provide afulcrum upon which the arm |23 and plate I2I are pivotally supported.From the fulcrum the arm |23 is defiected downwards adjacent the afterend 24 of the housing 2| and is then reversely bent providing a portion|29 extending upwards so that the end thereof may come into engagementwith any suitable abutment means |3I rigid with the housing,

just prior to the time at which the playing board 28 reaches its moststeeply inclined position. Continued upward motion of the after end ofthe playing board after engagement of the end |29 of the arm with theabutment |3| causes the arm |23 and the plate I 2| carried thereby to beswung in clockwise motion about the fulcrum. This raises the plate I2Iwithin the recess |I8 at a relatively rapid rate due to the relativelylong lever arm presented by the portion of the arm |23 lying between theplate |2I and the fulcrum as compared to the effective length of thatportion of the arm which lies between the fulcrum and the abutment |3I.Accordingly any quoits which are resting upon the plate |2| will beejected with suflicient force to cause them to fly upwards off the plateI2I and out of the recess |I8 andto fall upon the inclined upper surfaceof the playing board 28 free of the pin I I6, whereupon the quoits thusreleased from the pin and recess will slide down the sloping board 28toward and into the recess 5|. In fact I have found that the quoits areejected from the recess ||8 by this ejecting mechanism |I9 withsuchforce that they are caused to turn over in the air before fallingback upon the playing board 28.

Means are provided for lifting the quoits ||2 one at a time from therecess 5| after the playing board 28 has been returned to normalposition, and for depositing them in operative relation with respect tothe pitching mechanism 86, i. e. within then socket III. This devicecomprises a small horse shoe magnet I 36 which is provided witha handlein the form of a rod |31 extending looselyv through a slot |38 in anescutcheon plate |39fcarried by the top 26 of the housing 2|. The magnet|36 is larger than the slot |38 as is also a ball I4! rigidly secured tothe outer or upper end of the rod |31, the purpose being to prevent theremoval of the rod |31 from the slot |38. The parts are so proportionedand arranged that the operator may, by grasping that portion of the rod|31 which projects outside the housing, so manipulate the magnet I 38 asto bring it into engagement with one of the quoits I|2 lying within therecess 5|. 'I'hese quoits are composed of magnetic material, so thatthey may thus become engaged upon the magnet |36 and lifted thereby soas to permit the operator to place it within the socket which isprovided with a suitably shaped upper plate |42 carried by thetransverse strip ||4 and spaced a suitable distance above the supportingplate II3 to permit the quoit to be inserted between the two plates 3and |42. This upper plate |42 serves as means against which the quoitmay be engaged after having been placed within the socket III, wherebythe magnet |36 may be withdrawn therefrom, leaving the quoit within thesocket.

I' prefer that the bottom |46 of the recess 5| be provided with portions|41 which slope laterally and toward the rear of the machinefrom aposition directly under the socket the purpose being to prevent quoitsfrom coming torest Within the socket 5l in such position that they areinaccessible to the magnet |36 manipulated from above.

It will be noted that the pitching mechanism 86 is free to bereciprocated within its guideway SS without having to deposit any coinor coins. In other words, the game may be played continuously as long asany quoits yet remain within reach of the magnet |36. However, itisimpossible to lower the forward end il vof the playing board 28 and thuscause quoits that have been thrown toward the after end of the housing,to slide forward without depositing a coin of the proper denomination soas to effect release of the detent 56 from the bracket 8| as hereinabovedescribed.

In lorder to permit an operator to pitch a ringer, i. e., to cause thequoit to become 'en gaged upon the pin H6, I prefer that the quoits beshaped similarly to the conventional horseshoe but of appropriatelyreduced proportions. Hence the proper position for a quoit within thesocket is with the open end |5| thereof directed toward the after end ofthe game, so that as the quoit moves rearwards toward the pin l i6 theopen end i5| thereof will be in thelead. Accordingly if the horseshoe lI2 has been thrown .straight at the pin it will become engaged upon thepin and dropped into the recess H8. Considerable skill is necessary,however, to causeall o f the horseshoes, of which there are preferablyten "in each game, to be pitched successfully Vso as to make tenringers. I have found that if a horseshoe is not placed accuratelyWithin the socket ll with the open `end 5| thereof point;l ingabsolutely straight at the pin vi |6 and with the other end ofthe quoitactually in contact with the transverse lstrip M of the socket itwill'bervirtually impossible for the operator to throw .a ringer. Itwill readily be understood, therefore, that playing the game .of thepresent invention permits the exercise of much more vskillorrthe part ofthe operator lthan do most vgames of the general class to which thisap-` pertains. v Y y Y Fig. .11 illustrates a modified form of quoit orhorseshoe which may be 'used advantageously in the place of the quoits|2 hereinabove described. This horseshoe, which is indicatedinitsentirety at |56 is provided with means for Acausing it to turn as ityrnoves along a supporting surface and assume a predetermined positionwith respect to lits movement .upon that surface. This is accomfp'lished by providing supportingmeans for each .end ofthe horseshoe |56,the supporting means associated with one end being capable of movingeasily in all directions upon the supporting surface, whereas thesupporting means associated with theother end are not capable of movingon that surface as easily in at least any direction other than inparallelism with lthe longitudinal axis of the quoit |56. Preferably theclosed end |51 of the horseshoe |56 is provided with the universallymovable supporting means, lthis being in the form of a ball |58 mountedfor universal movement inthe horseshoe and projecting lbeyond both theupperand lower surfaces thereof. lIhe `preferred means for mounting the`ball |58 comprises a ferrule |59, the thickness .of.which is less-thanzthe diameter of the ball' l,lliwand within which the vball 58 ismounted for free rotation in4 all directions. 'I'he ferrule |59 isrigidly secured to the horseshoe |56 by being soldered or otherwisefastened within a hole |6| in the end |57 of the horshoe |56.

The supporting means for the other or open end |62 of the horseshoe |56comprises a ball |63 journalled adjacent the end of each leg |64 andprojecting beyond both the upper and lower surfaces thereof. However,instead of being jour-4 nalled for universal movement, each of the balls|63 is capable of rotating only about an axis extending transverselywith respect to the horseshoe. For this purpose each of the balls |63 isjournalled upon a transverse pin |66 extending across a hole |61 formedin each leg |64. The fact that the balls |58 and |63 project beyond boththe upper and lower surfaces of the horseshoe enables the device tooperate equally well regardless of which side is uppermost. Inasmuch asthe balls 63 can rotate only about transverse axes, motion ofthehorseshoe |56 upon a supporting surface will cause the end |62 of thehorseshoe to trail the other end |51, causing the horseshoe to assume aposition with its longitudinal axis substantially in parallelism withthe quoits motion; hence as the horseshoe moves along the playing board28 it will turn to position the open end |62 behind the closed end |59,and thereby make it impossible for the operator to pitch .a ringerunless the horseshoe has been pitched with sufficient velocity to causeit to become engaged upon the pin ||6 before it has had an opportunityto turn. Obviously this materially increases .the

`.amount of skill required for successfully playing It should beexplained that Whereas this lastA described modification of horseshoe|56 has been designed primarily in the quoit game ofv my invention, `itis also capable of being employed apart from the game as a childs toy.The fact that the toy will always turn to dispose its longitudinal axisin parallelism with the direction'of movement will cause the toy to havea great appeal for a child, because of the amusement afforded 4by merelywatching the toy turn and always assume a certain position when it isthrown or dragged upon a supported surface. The device may be givenvarious shapes, indicating animals and the like; and inasmuch as ananimal so constructed will always turn as it moves along its supportingsurface and point its head forward, it will make a .highly desirabletoy.

It is believed that the method whereby the game of the present inventionshould be played will v.readily be understood from the hereinabovedescription of its constituent parts. The object of the game, of course,is to build up as high a score as possible, it being understood lthat acertain `number of points are won by a -player each time he issuccessful in pitching a ringer. Inasmuch as a considerable degree ofskill is necessary in playing the game in this manner, it will readily.be understood that in addition to being amusing and entertaining initself, the game is of a highly competitive nature, for the reason thatreach of several players will desire to attain a higherA havingtransparent means therein through which;

said playing board is visible,"a target adjacent one end of saidplayingboard, a missile of magnetic material disposed inside said cab-inet,means adjacent the other endof said board for pitching said missiletoward said target, a magnet disposed inside said cabinet adjacent saidpitching means, and a handle secured to said magnet and extendingthrough a wall of saidfcabinetwhereby said missile can be placed inoperative relation to said vpitching means. V i

v 2. In a game, a closed cabinet having a playing board therein, atleast lonejwall of said cabinet having transparent means therein throughwhich said playing board is visible, a target adjacent one endv of saidplaying'board, a missile of magnetic material disposed'inside saidcabinet, means adjacent the other end of said board for pitchingsaidvmissile towardsaid target, a magnet disposedinside said cabinetadjacent said pitching means, and a handle securedto said magnet andextending through a wall of said cabinet whereby said missile can vbeplaced in selected operative relation to said pitching means. v o

3. In a game, a closed cabinet having a playing board therein,at leastone wall of said cabinet having transparent means therein through whichsaidA playing board Iis visible, a target adjacent one end of saidplaying board, a missile of mag- .netic material disposed inside saidcabinet, means adjacent the other end of said board for pitchingsaid'missile toward said target, a magnet disposed inside said'l cabinetadjacent said pitching means, a handle secured to said magnet andextending through anj opening in a wall of said cabinet whereby saidmagnet may be manipulated from outside said cabinet and means forcausing said missile to move to a position adjacent said pitching-means.

4. In a game, a playing board, a target therein "'4'0 comprising `a holethrough thel board and a pin extending axially through said hole, rigidmeans below `said board to lwhich said pin is secured, a miniaturehorseshoe adapted to be pitched at y said targetand' having an openingthereinl en- -i5 abling it to' become engaged upon said pin, said holebeing :ofsuflicient size to'receive said horseshoe, means carried bysaid board for supporting saidminiaturehorseshoe when Within said hole,and` means yfor raising said supporting meansto `Y`0 eject saidminiature horseshoe from said hole.

5.v In agame, a playing board, a target therein comprising a holeVthrough the-'board and a pin extending axially through said hole, rigidmeans o belowfsaidfboard to which said pin is secured, a "'55 miniaturehorseshoe adapted to be pitched at said target and` having an openingtherein enabling it to become engagedrupon said pin, means carriedbysaidboardforsupporting said miniature'y horseshoe when within saidhole, means for tilting said G0 board to raise the portion thereofassociated with said target, and means for raising said supporting meanswith respect to said board to eject said miniature horseshoe from saidhole as said board approaches the upper extreme of its movement.

6. In a game, a playing board, a target therein comprising a holethroughl the'board and a pin extending axially through said h ole, rigidmeans below said ,board to which said pin is secured, a n miniaturehorseshoe adapted to be pitched at said "10 target and having an openingVtherein enabling it to become engaged upon said pin, means carried bysaid board for supporting said miniature horseshoe when within saidhole,`means` for tiltl ing said'board to raise the'portion thereofassoci- "75 ated withY said target, meansfor raising saidi'sup'- portingmeans with respect to said board to eject said miniature horseshoe fromsaid hole as said board approaches the upper extreme of itsmovement,vand means disposed adjacent the other end of said board forpitching said miniature horseshoe toward said target after said boardhas been lowered to normalV position.

7. In a game, a playing board, a target therein comprising a holethrough the board and a pin extending axially through said hole, rigidmeans below said board to which said pin is secured, a miniaturehorseshoe adapted to be pitched at said target and having an openingtherein enabling it to become engaged upon said pin, means carried bysaid board for supporting said miniature horseshoe when within saidhole, means for tilting said board to raise the portion thereofassociated with said target, means for raising said supporting meanswith respect to said board to eject said miniature horseshoe from saidhole as said board approaches the upper extreme of its movement, meansdisposed adjacent the other end of said board for pitching saidminiature horseshoe toward said target after said board has been loweredto normal position, means adjacent said pitching means for receivingsaid miniature horseshoe when it slides down said tilted board, andmeans operable exteriorly of said game for placing said miniaturehorseshoe in selected position upon said pitching means.

8. A game apparatus comprising a box; a target eld adapted to receiveimpelled projectiles; a retrieving pocket; means connectingtheretrieving pocket with the target eld; means to lock said target eld,retrieving pocket, and connecting means in substantially horizontalposition; coin-controlled means to release said locking means; and meansto tilt said target field, retrieving pocket, and connecting means,whereby the projectiles on the target iield may be returned to theretrieving pocket on deposit of a coin in said coin-controlled lockingmeans.

9. In an amusement device comprising a frame member, a playing surfaceextending from the front wall to the rear wall of the frame member,means for pivotally mounting the playing surface in the frame member, apeg extending through an aperture in the playing surface, means for aplayer to pitch miniature horseshoes at the peg, and means associatedwith said pivoting means to return "the pitched horseshoes to theplayer.l

10. In an amusement device comprising an enclosed housing embodying aglass top, a normally stationary playing surface pivotally mountedtherein and extending from the front wall to the rear wall of thehousing, a peg extending through an aperture in the playing surfaceadjacent the rearwall, means for a player to pitch miniature rhorseshoesat the peg, yand means to move the playing `surface to returnthehorseshoes pitched to the player.

11. In an amusement device comprising an enclosed housing embodying aglass top, a playing surface pivotally'mounted therein and extendingfrom the front wall to the rear wall of said housing, a peg supported ona' bracket mounted on said rear wall and projecting through an aperturein the playing surface adjacent the rear wall, meansV provided at thefront wall Vof said housing for a player to pitchminiature horseshoes atthe peg, and means for moving the playing surface to return thehorseshoes pitched to the player. A

12. In an amusement device comprising an enclosed housing embodying aglass top, a normally closed' housing embodying a gassA top, a normallystationary playing surface pivotally mounted in the side Walls of thehousing and extending from the front wall to the rear Wall of saidhousing, a peg extending through an aperture in the playing surfaceadjacent the rear Wall, means mounted on the front wall for a player topitch miniature horseshoes at the peg, and means for tilting saidplaying surface to return the horseshoes 10 pitched to the player.

13. In an amusement device comprising an enstationary playing surfacepivotally mounted therein and extending from the front wall to the rearWall of said housing, a peg extending through an aperture in the playingsurface adjacent the rear Wall, means for a player to pitch miniaturehorseshoes at the peg, means to move the playing surface to return thehorseshoes, and a pocket in the front of the housing for receiving thehorseshoes from the returning means.

SHERMAN T. ALLEN.

